Why Choose Division III?

NCAA Division III Mission Statement: To govern competition in a fair, safe, equitable and sportsmanlike manner, and to integrate intercollegiate athletics into higher education so that the educational experience of the student-athlete is paramount.

NCAA Division III Identity Initiative

Sep 1, 2011

Follow your passions and discover your potential. The college experience is a time of learning and growth - a chance to follow passions and develop potential. For student-athletes in Division III, all of this happens most importantly in the classroom and through earning an academic degree. The Division III experience provides for passionate participation in a competitive athletic environment, where student-athletes push themselves to excellence and build upon their academic success with new challenges and life skills. And student-athletes are encouraged to pursue the full spectrum of opportunities available during their time in college. In this way, Division III provides an integrated enviroment for student-athletes to take responsibility for their own paths, follow their passions and find their potential through a comprehensive educational experience.

"What It Means To Be A Division III Student-Athlete" by Justin Lunt, head men's basketball coach at University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. The article was featured on the National Federation of High School Associations website as part of the "Coaching Today" publication.

Six Attributes of Division III 1. Proportion: Appropriate relation of academics with opportunities to pursue athletics and other passions

Student-athletes continue to compete in a highly competitive athletic program and retain the full spectrum of college life - Focus on academic achievement while graduating with a comprehensive education that builds skills beyond the classroom

Access financial aid for college without the obligations of an athletic scholarship

Opportunities to play more than one sport

Be responsible for your own path, discover potential through opportunities to pursue many interests

Academics are the primary focus for student-athleties. Shorter practices and playing seasons, no redshirting and regional competition minimize time away from their academic studies and keep student-athletes on a path to graduation.

Student-athletes are integrated on campus and treated like all other members of the general student-body, keeping them focused on being a student first.

Participation in athletics provides valuable "life lessons" for student-athletes (teamwork, discipline, perservance, leadership, etc) which often translates into becoming a better student and more responsible citizen.

Division III institutions develop student-athlete potential through a comprehensive educational approach - Division III institutions offer athletics for the educational value and benefit to the student-athlete, not for the purpose of revenue generation and entertainment.

Student-athletes do not receive monetary incentive to play sports but rather participate for the love of the game.